After the Cold War, the Pentagon began downsizing its forces and developing high-tech, mobile weapons designed to deal with “rogue” states like Iraq — less powerful than the Soviet juggernaut but still able to attack the United States and its allies. But the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks forced Pentagon planners back to the drawing board to develop new strategies and weapons. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld wants to further transform the military to enable it to counter emerging threats from unconventional forces like the Al Qaeda Islamic terrorist organization. Meanwhile, President Bush is considering a pre-emptive strike against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, but most U.S. allies oppose unilateral action.

Mary H. Cooper specializes in environmental, energy and defense issues. Before joining CQ Researcher as a staff writer in 1983, she was a reporter and Washington correspondent for the Rome daily newspaper l'Unita. She is the author of The Business of Drugs (CQ Press, 1990). She also is a contract translator-interpreter for the U.S. State Department. Cooper graduated from Hollins College in English.